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Systems to retain an optical element on a solar cellSystems to retain an optical element on a solar cell description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20090120499, Systems to retain an optical element on a solar cell. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/987,882, filed on Nov. 14, 2007 and entitled “Devices For Retaining An Optical Element On A Solar Cell”, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. A concentrating solar power unit may operate to concentrate incoming light onto a solar cell. It may be desirable to couple an optical element to the solar cell in order to increase an acceptance angle of the concentrating solar power unit, to homogenize the light source over the surface of the cell, and/or to further focus the light. An upper (i.e., incoming) surface of the optical element should be retained in a particular spatial position relative to other optical elements in the system, and a lower (i.e., outgoing) surface of the optical element should be retained in a particular spatial position relative to an active area of the solar cell. The size and weight of the optical element typically prohibit bonding the optical element directly to the fragile surface of the active area as a means of achieving this positioning. Some conventional concentrating solar power units use a three part mounting scheme to retain an optical element on a solar cell. The solar cell is mounted to a back side of a substrate, and a lower holder is mounted to a front side of the substrate. Both the lower holder and the substrate define openings to allow incoming light to pass to the solar cell. The openings are filled with a PDMS (silicone) gel and an optical element is placed in the openings such that the lower holder positions the bottom of the optical element over cell. The gel is cured between the bottom of the optical element and the solar cell to a thickness greater than the final operating thickness. An upper holder is then placed to position the top of the optical element over the cell and to exert some compressive force against the cell. Placement of the upper holder therefore also serves to compress the gel. This compression may push out bubbles that may have formed during the cure and fixes a gap between the optical element and the cell. The upper holder may include tabs to locate the top surface of the optical element. These tabs may plastically deform over time and reduce the compression of the gel. Moreover, although many packaging houses are familiar with silicone dispense, the size and geometry of the above-described assembly may create difficulties in high volume packaging lines. Overcompression may cause the optical element to damage the cell. The gel itself may flow out of the gap over time (e.g., due to thermal pumping, etc), thereby degrading the optical coupling. The lower holder may be subject to oxidation if it receives highly concentrated light during operation. Products of the oxidation may be absorbed into the optical coupling or may be deposited on the optical element, degrading the optical performance and possibly leading to failure of the power unit. Improved systems to retain an optical element on a solar cell are desired. Such systems may improve manufacturability, the retention of the optical element, the maintenance of the optical coupling and/or the quality of an optical coupling. The construction and usage of embodiments will become readily apparent from consideration of the following specification as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts. Continue reading about Systems to retain an optical element on a solar cell... Full patent description for Systems to retain an optical element on a solar cell Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Systems to retain an optical element on a solar cell patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Systems to retain an optical element on a solar cell or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Solar cell package for solar concentrator Next Patent Application: Formation of photoconductive and photovoltaic films Industry Class: Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Systems to retain an optical element on a solar cell patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 2.40444 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf paws |
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